Surgeons / Proceduralists

You can now book a case using the online case booking form... Click "For Surgeons" below, and you'll find a form that will send information directly to our administrative team. We'll be in contact with you with confirmation of your booking and let you know whether an anaesthetist is available at the time you require.

Anaesthetic Fees

Use the navigation below to review the commonly asked questions pertaining to anaesthetic fees. If you have a question that is not covered by this information, please contact us and we will endeavour to clarify your situation.

When an anaesthetist provides a service to a patient, they are not doing this in the role of an employee of the hospital or the surgeon. The fees paid to an anaesthetist are paid by the patient, usually in conjunction with their insurance provider.

Each anaesthetist is an independent practitioner, and calculates their own fees independently of other anaesthetists, which is the reason why patients may receive different charges for different operations, or for the same operation by different anaesthetists.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) prepare a list of medical services and fees for private patient anaesthesia services, and index this each year. Most Anaesthetists base their charges on this indexed list of services.

Fees for anaesthetic interventions vary depending on many different factors, including the time and nature of the pre-anaesthetic assessment, the complexity of the operation, and the time that the operation takes. Additional fees may apply for patients who are more complex, more frail, or for whom the operation is performed as an emergency or “out of hours”.

The anaesthetist is present during the entire operation, and their role is not constrained to the start and end of the procedure. They make decisions while the patient is anaesthetized in order to keep the patient safe at all times.

Why is there a “gap” between the Health fund rebates and the Anaesthetist’s fee? Administrator
2015-01-09T16:39:39+00:00

It is not uncommon for the rebates provided by Medicare and the Private Health Funds to fall short of the total fee charged by the Anaesthetist. The difference between these fees causes a “gap”, and is an out-of-pocket expense that is met by the patient. There are a variety of reasons why this gap has grown over the past few decades, but the major reason is inadequate indexation of the Medicare (and consequently health fund) rebates over a prolonged period of time.

Many anaesthetists will offer discounted fees in order to reduce the out of pocket expenses for Australian government pensioners. Please discuss this with our rooms if you feel that you are eligible for consideration of this.

Where possible, anaesthetists will endeavour to reduce your fees by using the “known gap” provisions of health funds when applicable. The different policies of health funds and their rebates can mean substantial differences in patient fees for the same operation and the same anaesthetic fee.

If you are to be charged an out-of-pocket expense, a member of our staff will attempt to contact you prior to your operation to provide you with an estimate of fees for your anaesthetic. Given that fees vary with procedure time, it is often impossible to provide an exact figure prior to your surgery.

Can I request an estimate of fees? Administrator
2016-09-28T13:13:37+00:00

Absolutely. Patients whose fees are greater than the rebates from Health Fund and Medicare will be asked to pay a “gap” payment. These out-of-pocket expenses usually vary with the length of the operation. As a result, it is often difficult for anaesthetists to accurately predict the out-of-pocket expenses in advance.

Anaesthetic Services’ anaesthetists feel that patients should be provided with an estimate of fees before their operation, and patients will usually receive a letter or a telephone call prior to their surgery in order to clarify any additional expenses. If you are booked for surgery with an Anaesthetist of Anaesthetic Services and have not been informed of your likely out-of-pocket expenses, please contact our rooms if you wish for a fee estimate in advance. Please note that Surgeons frequently use many anaesthetists, and the independent nature of practice means that anaesthetist’s fees will likely vary between operating lists.

What is the process for account estimates? Administrator
2015-01-09T16:39:29+00:00

The fee for your anaesthetic is determined by each individual anaesthetist in Anaesthetic Services. Each anaesthetist has individual fees.

Estimates

Estimates can be given on your “out of pocket expense”. To provide you with the most accurate estimate possible we need the following information

Do you have insurance.. if yes, which fund?

What operation are you having done?

An estimation of the length of time the operation will take?

This information can provided to you by the surgeon who will be performing your operation.

We encourage patients to contact us to obtain an estimate regarding their surgery.

Patients without Private Hospital Health Insurance

Patients who do not have private hospital cover are required to make some payment before your anaesthetic. Dependant on who your anaesthetist is, you may be asked to pay the Total account or the “out of pocket” expense.

You should receive an estimate of fees in the mail; which you are required to pay two working days prior to surgery. Personal cheques are not accepted for these payments.

If you have not received an account please contact us for an estimate.

Patients having Cosmetic Surgery or a Procedure which is not covered by Medicare

These patients are required to pay the full fee before their anaesthetic.

You should receive an estimate of fees in the mail; which you are required to pay two working days prior to surgery. Personal cheques are not accepted for these payments.

If you have not received an account please contact us for an estimate.

The fee for your anaesthetic is determined by each individual anaesthetist in Anaesthetic Services. Each anaesthetist has individual fees.

There are a number of different factors which determine your account, these include

Whether you have private hospital insurance or not

Whether your insurer allows anaesthetists to charge “co-payments”

How long your operation takes

The type of operation you are having

Whether or not your operation is classified as cosmetic

Whether your operation is covered by Medicare (your surgeon will advise you if it is NOT)

A co-payment is a fee in addition to the health fund and Medicare payment. This is an out of pocket expense to you. Some health funds allow co-payments, some don’t- please check with your health fund.

Because of all these varying factors there are a number of different accounts that you may receive:

Simplified Billing
If your anaesthetist chooses to send your account directly through to your private health fund (which includes the Medicare rebate and does not include a co-payment) you will not receive an account from us. The relevant bodies will pay the anaesthetist directly and they will advise you once the account has been paid

In addition, some patients are covered by agencies who will have their accounts paid for (in full) and will not incur any “out of pocket” expense. These include:

Department of Veteran Affairs

Work cover (with an approved claim)

Third Party Insurance (with an approved claim)

Account for co-payment
Your “out of pocket expense”- you need to pay this money. This can’t be claimed. The rest of your account is sent directly to your health insurer.

Account for total fee
These accounts can be claimed through Medicare and your private health fund (if applicable). Your Medicare office will be able to provide you with the appropriate form to complete.

Your cheque(s) will be sent directly to you, made payable to your anaesthetist. You will need to forward them to our office along with any out-of-pocket expense.

Account for balance
You have paid your “out of pocket expense” prior to your anaesthetic. You have a balance that is payable by Medicare and your private health insurer (if you have one).

Your Medicare office will be able to provide you with the appropriate form to complete. Your cheque(s) will be sent to you directly and will be made payable to your anaesthetist. You will need to forward them to our office to settle the balance of your account.

Account already paid OR Account paid prior to surgery
You will be sent your paid itemised statement after your surgery for you to claim your rebates. These accounts should be taken to Medicare and your private health fund (if applicable). Your Medicare office will be able to provide you with the appropriate form to complete.

Anaesthetic Services are a group of specialist anaesthetists who provide quality anaesthetic care for Victorian patients.